Coffee And Dessert

When I dine out, I usually start with an appetizer, select an entree and then pick a dessert. I really enjoy the entire dining experience. Lately, I've added a new twist to my dining experience. I order coffee with dessert. Are you giggling? I started doing this a year ago. I don't know why. I've never been a coffee drinker. I rarely frequent or visit coffee shops. My mornings begin with a glass of water, cup of juice and if it's chilly outside, a cup of hot chocolate (with marshmallows please). But lately, I've been really enjoying pairing coffee with a delicious slice of cake, pie, brownie or cobbler etc. 

So all of this made me wonder, what is the etiquette for serving coffee and dessert? I did a quick online search and discovered some interesting things. Formally, dessert is served first, followed by coffee. The more casual approach is to serve coffee and dessert together. I also found out, coffee cuts the sweetness of the dessert (source). Another interesting fact is that coffee, which is a stimulant, aids in digestion (source). Hmm, maybe this will make me feel less guilty about what I ate. I thought these little tidbits were interesting. When you go out to eat, do you ever think about the details? I'll elaborate more about dining in a future blog post. I'm definitely paying more attention and asking myself why things are done the way they are. Feel free to share your dining experiences and preferences in my comments below.

Pictures: Coffee and Tres Leches Cakes || Fogo de Chao Dallas, Texas